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Apple Oatmeal Cookies with Brown Butter Frosting

Well hello Wednesday. How did you get here? I missed my usual Saturday things post because I was sort of obsessing over my new niece. But, never fear. Here lies my newest installment of Saturday Wednesday Things. You’re welcome, America.

1. Time really flies when you’re having fun. I got back from our mini family reunion/baby ogling trip yesterday and have been trying to climb to the top of my dirty laundry pile ever since.

2. So far I have been rather unsuccessful.

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3. Send help.

4. While on said trip, we had some family photos taken by Callie Mae Photography. We saw a ‘preview’ of the work she did and of course loved the photo. If you live in Utah or Idaho {or other places and are willing to travel, like us} then give this girl a call! She is wonderful….

5. Wonderful and CRUEL! I don’t like getting just a ‘preview’. Now I have to wait a week to get the rest of the photos?! WHAT? –>torture

6. If you haven’t yet ‘liked’ my latest photo at the Around the World in 80 Plates Facebook page, please please please take 4 seconds to click the button. My life is depending on this!!!!

7. Ok, not really.

8. While visiting my sissy and her new baby, my parents brought me a Costco sized package of Canadian chocolate bars. A nice little token of the motherland….because our little family of three needs 18 chocolate bars.—>???

9. We basically just ate chocolate on the 13 hour drive home.

10. Now might be a good time to mention that I signed up to run the Portland Marathon. I’m gonna be running my booty off this summer. So far I think it’s a good idea, but ask me in a month.

11. I made cookies for you today. Because I love your faces. I thought it was about time I made cookies for you. Totally old school cookies. Like the kind your Grandma’s would make. Except I frosted them with a life changing substance I like to call heaven. Or for you normal folk Brown Butter Frosting.

12. When making these cookies, I ate more frosting than cookie dough. That’s saying a LOT.

13. Just like any other cookie, these are pretty simple to make. And even if you screw them up, the frosting will fix everything.

14. Also, I now believe that Brown Butter Frosting is the key to world peace.

15. So, in conclusion, I love my niece, I hate laundry, I’m a big chocolate-loving-fatso-except-not-really-because-I’m running-a-marathon, cookies are delicious and brown butter will change your life.

Here’s how you make them:

First things first–>find some cheap child labor. Let them know that being paid in cookie dough is not such a bad thing.

Into your mixer, measure out some butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar.

Whip until light and fluffy.

Add in an egg and vanilla {not pictured, but it went in!}

Whip this all up to be a light and fluffy mess. Let it be known that I could eat this with a spoon. My daughter attempted approximately 14 times to swipe a lick. Actually, she asked about 5 times, got tired of hearing me say “no” and just started reaching in. The scoundrel.

Measure out all your dry ingredients and stir them together into a separate bowl and dump the whole thing into the mixer.

Add in the oats too and stir.

Once the batter is done, peel and dice up some apple. I used half a fuji apple because those are the apples we buy but use whichever kind you have.

Stir the apples in by hand and you’re ready to go!

Scoop the batter onto a baking sheet and cook 8-10 minutes.

Now would be time for payment. Please excuse my crazy eyed daughter. She’s a wild child that cannot be reformed.

While the cookies are baking, we’re gonna make the frosting. Melt some butter in a small saucepan. Easy enough, right?

Cook the butter over medium heat until it starts to brown. Keep swirling until it turns a medium to medium dark brown/amber color. Once it has browned, pour it out into a mixing bowl immediately. You turn your back for one second and it will burn! Even keeping it in a hot pan off the heat will turn it into black butter. Brown butter = good. Black butter = nast. Amen.

Once you pour the butter into a mixing bowl, stir in some powdered sugar and milk to get a frosting consistency.

Once you pull the cookies out of the oven and your frosting is ready, you can go to town!

Hello my pretties! I dusted the tops with a little more cinnamon and then served.

We LOVED these. But, anything could taste good with that frosting slathered all over it. 🙂 Hope you guys get around to making these! Perfect for an evening treat, an after school snack or to pack in a lunch.

Have a great Wednesday and don’t forget to come like this photo. Thanks, friends!

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with silicone baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Stir in egg and vanilla. Slowly incorporate all dry ingredients. Stir in oats and apples. Scoop onto prepared sheet and bake 8-10 minutes or until the edges are golden.

While cookies are baking, place 1/4 cup butter into small saucepan. With heat on medium, melt and brown the butter. Once the butter is a medium brown/amber color remove from heat and pour into a small bowl. Stir in powdered sugar and enough milk to get a spreadable consistency.

Frost warm cookies and sprinkle with more cinnamon, if desired. Serve.

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Comments

I am so sad! I just made these, and they did NOT turn out 🙁 🙁
I just recently discovered how awesome baking is, so I probably just made novice mistakes. First, they were totally flat and melted-like when I pulled them out of the oven. I am guessing that may have been an issue with the butter being the wrong temp? Also, I think I was too chicken with the frosting, and didn’t let it get brown enough. It is still really good, but it is more like regular-ol butter frosting.

Also, what is the purpose of a silicone baking mat/parchment paper? Maybe an obvious question for seasoned bakers, but I am still learning…I just lightly greased my sheets…maybe thats why they didn’t turn out??

I think they flattened out because there wasn’t enough flour mixed in. It’s a pretty common thing to happen and has to do with how you measure the flour. Next time you make them, do a tester {bake 1 cookie} to see how they do. If they’re really flat, then add a little more flour, like 1-2 tablespoons. Then test another cookie to see how they bake. Did you use 1/4 teaspoon baking soda? Too much baking soda can flatten cookies too.

I measure my flour by fluffing the flour first with a measuring cup, then scooping the measuring cup in and leveling off the top with my fingers or a butter knife.

I like using parchment paper because it means less dishes! And the silpat silicone mats are great for cookies. NOTHING sticks to them! I doubt your lightly greased baking sheets had anything to do with them not turning out.

This is embarrassing, but I realized I was doubling the recipe, and doubled everything but the flour :S. I did have some dough left and added more flour and they turned out perfect. Thanks for the advice 🙂 🙂

I want to thank you for this recipe. I take food to my grandmother every weekend. She usually resists and says I shouldn’t bring her anything. Since I made these cookies for her – she requests them frequently – which she has NEVER done. (She is rather hard to please.) So, even though as a rule I am vaguely resentful and envious of you women that do it all so effortlessly… Thank you!

I made these last night to take to a pot luck at work today. Sadly, something went wrong and I have to consider these a fail. I gotta start by saying that the flavor is amazing and if they had worked for me as they should have, they would probably be like my favorite cookies. As for the problem, that is 2-fold. First, I don’t know what went wrong, but my cookies flattend waaaaaaaay out and turned into like cookie wafers. I am ok with that, they still seemed crispy so I hoped they would hold up. Something else happened over the night though, they became super soft and cakey and crumbly. Sadly, I couldn’t serve them for the pot luck. But as a bit of a silver lining, I am going to take this all back home and try to turn them into the best cake balls ever.

Hi Lauren 🙂
Your daughter is sooo adorable :)!!!
It’s four years later and I come across this recipe!! Thanks for the recipe! They look delicious, I’m going to make these for my Labor Day wknd cookout. Nothing wrong with cheap labor LOL. I had all of 6 of my grands helping me during this past 4th of July weekend!!!. LOL
Thanks again!